EP1361646A2 - Alternator for vehicle - Google Patents
Alternator for vehicle Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP1361646A2 EP1361646A2 EP03009470A EP03009470A EP1361646A2 EP 1361646 A2 EP1361646 A2 EP 1361646A2 EP 03009470 A EP03009470 A EP 03009470A EP 03009470 A EP03009470 A EP 03009470A EP 1361646 A2 EP1361646 A2 EP 1361646A2
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- rectifier
- cooling
- cooling medium
- stator
- medium path
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
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Classifications
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
- H02K—DYNAMO-ELECTRIC MACHINES
- H02K9/00—Arrangements for cooling or ventilating
- H02K9/02—Arrangements for cooling or ventilating by ambient air flowing through the machine
- H02K9/04—Arrangements for cooling or ventilating by ambient air flowing through the machine having means for generating a flow of cooling medium
- H02K9/06—Arrangements for cooling or ventilating by ambient air flowing through the machine having means for generating a flow of cooling medium with fans or impellers driven by the machine shaft
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
- H02K—DYNAMO-ELECTRIC MACHINES
- H02K11/00—Structural association of dynamo-electric machines with electric components or with devices for shielding, monitoring or protection
- H02K11/04—Structural association of dynamo-electric machines with electric components or with devices for shielding, monitoring or protection for rectification
- H02K11/049—Rectifiers associated with stationary parts, e.g. stator cores
- H02K11/05—Rectifiers associated with casings, enclosures or brackets
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
- H02K—DYNAMO-ELECTRIC MACHINES
- H02K5/00—Casings; Enclosures; Supports
- H02K5/04—Casings or enclosures characterised by the shape, form or construction thereof
- H02K5/20—Casings or enclosures characterised by the shape, form or construction thereof with channels or ducts for flow of cooling medium
- H02K5/203—Casings or enclosures characterised by the shape, form or construction thereof with channels or ducts for flow of cooling medium specially adapted for liquids, e.g. cooling jackets
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
- H02K—DYNAMO-ELECTRIC MACHINES
- H02K5/00—Casings; Enclosures; Supports
- H02K5/04—Casings or enclosures characterised by the shape, form or construction thereof
- H02K5/20—Casings or enclosures characterised by the shape, form or construction thereof with channels or ducts for flow of cooling medium
- H02K5/207—Casings or enclosures characterised by the shape, form or construction thereof with channels or ducts for flow of cooling medium with openings in the casing specially adapted for ambient air
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
- H02K—DYNAMO-ELECTRIC MACHINES
- H02K19/00—Synchronous motors or generators
- H02K19/16—Synchronous generators
- H02K19/36—Structural association of synchronous generators with auxiliary electric devices influencing the characteristic of the generator or controlling the generator, e.g. with impedances or switches
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
- H02K—DYNAMO-ELECTRIC MACHINES
- H02K9/00—Arrangements for cooling or ventilating
- H02K9/19—Arrangements for cooling or ventilating for machines with closed casing and closed-circuit cooling using a liquid cooling medium, e.g. oil
- H02K9/197—Arrangements for cooling or ventilating for machines with closed casing and closed-circuit cooling using a liquid cooling medium, e.g. oil in which the rotor or stator space is fluid-tight, e.g. to provide for different cooling media for rotor and stator
Definitions
- the present invention relates to an alternator for a vehicle which generates driving power for an electric load and charging power for a battery mounted on the vehicle.
- the position lower in temperature than the fixed position of the cathode side rectifying element means a position which can be near the cooling medium path and at outer side in the radial direction than the cathode-side rectifying element or a position opposing to the cooling medium path.
- a reference numeral 1 depicts a frame constituting the housing of the alternator for a vehicle (hereinafter, merely called a generator).
- the frame 1 is a vessel shaped housing member which one end in the axial line direction of the center shaft thereof is opened.
- the frame 1 is configured by a peripheral wall 1a of an almost cylindrical shape and a side wall 1b which closes the one end of the peripheral wall 1a (the other end in the axial line direction of the center shaft of the frame 1).
- a cooling medium path 2 the side wall 1b side (the other end side in the axial line direction of the center shaft of the frame 1) thereof is opened, is formed within the peripheral wall 1a.
- the cooling medium supply port 3 is coupled to the upstream side (the portion where the cooling water before cooling the engine flows) of the engine cooling system of the automobile. Thus, a pat of the cooling water for cooling the engine is branched and supplied to the generator and then circulated within the cooling medium path 2 to cool the generator.
- the cooling medium exhaust port 4 is coupled to the downstream side (the portion where the cooling water having cooled the engine flows) of the engine cooling system of the automobile. Thus, the cooling water having cooled the generator and exhausted from the generator is joined with the cooling water having cooled the engine and then cooled by a radiator attached to the engine.
- An end bracket 8 (or an end plate) is fixed by means of a bolt 36 serving as a fixing means to the one end in the axial line direction of the center shaft of the frame 1 so as to close an opening portion formed at the one end in the axial line direction of the center shaft of the frame 1 (that is, one side of the peripheral wall 1a in opposite to the side wall 1b side thereof).
- the end bracket 8 is an annular member and holds a bearing device 10 at the inner periphery side thereof.
- An end bracket 9 (sometimes an end plate) is fixed by means of a bolt 37 serving as a fixing means to the other end in the axial line direction of the center shaft of the frame 1 so as to contact with the outer surface of the side wall 1b through a member.
- the end bracket 9 is an annular member and closes the opening end of the cooling medium path 2 formed at the other end side (the side wall 1b side of the peripheral wall 1a) in the axial line direction of the center shaft of the frame 1.
- the member provided between the outer surface of the side wall 1b and the end bracket 9 is made from silicon resin which thermal conductivity is larger than air.
- silicon resin which thermal conductivity is larger than air.
- material other than the silicon resin may be used as the member so long as the material has thermal conductivity equivalent to that of the silicon resin.
- a pole core 14 (or rotor iron) opposing to the stator core 5 through a gap is provided at the inner periphery side of the stator core 5 so as to be rotatable.
- the pole core 14 is fixed to a shaft 13 (or a rotation shaft) in a manner that a pair of nail-shaped cores having plural nail portions in the peripheral direction are opposed to each other in the axial line direction of the rotation shaft and that the nail portions of the one of the nail-shaped cores and the nail portions of the other of the nail-shaped cores are disposed alternatively in the peripheral direction (that is, the rotation direction of the rotor).
- the shaft 13 extends in the axial line direction of the center shaft of the frame 1.
- These three through holes 30 are arranged in a circular shape at portions not opposing to the cooling medium path 2 of the end bracket 9.
- the cathode side of a rectifying diode 31 serving as a cathode side rectifying element is pressed and buried into each of the through holes 30.
- the bottom surface of each of the rectifying diodes 31 contacts with the outer surface of the side wall 1b through a silicon member provided between the outer surface of the side wall 1b and the end bracket 9.
- Each of screw holes 45 is formed at an almost intermediate portion between a corresponding pair of the through holes 34 and 44 of the end bracket 9 which is outside of the radial direction than the corresponding through hole 34.
- the noise level of the generator with the fan becomes slightly larger than that of the generator without the fan.
- the ratio between the rotation speed of the crank shaft of the engine and the rotation speed of the generator is set almost to be 1 : 1.5 to 3.
- the noise level of the engine becomes excessive as compared with that of the generator and so the noise level difference between the generator with the fan and the generator without the fan does not become a problem.
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Power Engineering (AREA)
- Motor Or Generator Cooling System (AREA)
- Synchronous Machinery (AREA)
Abstract
a cathode side rectifying element constituting the rectifier (23) is fixed to a portion of the end plate (9) not opposing to the cooling medium path (2), and a cooling member, at which an anode side rectifying element (28) constituting the rectifier (23) is fixed, is fixed to the end plate in an insulated state so that the anode side rectifying element (28) is disposed at a position lower in temperature than a fixed position where the cathode side rectifying element is disposed.
Description
- The present invention relates to an alternator for a vehicle which generates driving power for an electric load and charging power for a battery mounted on the vehicle.
- The conventional alternator for a vehicle is arranged as described in JP-A-2000-270518, for example, in a manner that cooling medium other than external air, for example, cooling water is circulated within the generator thereby to cool a stator, a rectifier and a voltage generator as major exothermic portions. In particular, at the time of cooling the rectifier, the rectifier is fixed at a portion of an end portion opposing to the opening portion of a cooling medium path thereby to be cooled by the cooling medium. The end portion closes the opening portion of the cooling medium.
- In recent years, the alternator for a vehicle has been required to have a higher output due to the increase of a capacity of an electric load mounted on an automobile. In order to satisfy such a requirement, it is required to improve the cooling capacity of the exothermic portions of the alternator for a vehicle, for example, the rectifier. As one of plural means for satisfying such a requirement, like the conventional alternator for a vehicle, it can be effective to fix the rectifier at the portion of the end portion closing the opening portion of the cooling medium which opposes to the opening portion of the cooling medium path thereby to be cooled by the cooling medium. However, at present, it is further required to improve the cooling efficiency of the rectifier.
- The present invention provides an alternator for a vehicle which can improve the cooling efficiency of a rectifier.
- To this end, a typical example of the present invention is arranged in a manner that a cathode side rectifying element constituting a rectifier can be fixed to a portion of an end plate, for hermetically closing the opened end of a cooling medium path, not opposing to the cooling medium path, and a cooling member, at which an anode side rectifying element constituting the rectifier is fixed, can be fixed to the end plate in an insulated state so that the anode side rectifying element is disposed at a position lower in temperature than a fixed position where the cathode side rectifying element is disposed.
- The position lower in temperature than the fixed position of the cathode side rectifying element means a position which can be near the cooling medium path and at outer side in the radial direction than the cathode-side rectifying element or a position opposing to the cooling medium path.
- According to the typical example of the present invention, the cathode side rectifying element can be cooled by directly contacting with the cooling medium and can also be cooled through the end plate constituting the cooling medium path. On the other hand, the anode side rectifying element can be cooled through the end plate and the cooling member for fixing the anode side rectifying element. In this case, the cooling member for fixing the anode side rectifying element can be fixed to the end plate in the insulated state so that the anode side rectifying element can be disposed at the position lower in temperature than the fixed position where the cathode side rectifying element is disposed. Thus, the anode side rectifying element can be cooled with the similar cooling effect as the cathode side rectifying element. In this manner, according to the typical example of the present invention, both the cathode side rectifying element and the anode side rectifying element can be cooled in a balanced state and so the cooling efficiency of the rectifier can be improved.
- Another typical example of the alternator for a vehicle according to the present invention is arranged in a manner that the rectifier can be fixed to the end plate for hermetically closing the opened end of the cooling medium path, and an intake hole for the cooling air can be provided at a portion, of the cover member for covering the rectifier, near the rectifier and outer side in the radial direction than the rectifier.
- According to the another typical example of the present invention, the end plate side of the rectifier (the cathode side rectifying element side) can be cooled by directly contacting with the cooling medium and can also be cooled through the end plate constituting the cooling medium path. On the other hand, the side of the rectifier in opposite to the end plate side thereof (the anode side rectifying element side) can be cooled by the cooling air taken into through the intake hole. In this manner, according to the another typical example of the present invention, the rectifier can be cooled at the both side thereof and so the cooling efficiency of the rectifier can be improved.
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- Fig. 1 is a sectional view showing the entire configuration of the alternator for a vehicle according to the first embodiment of the present invention;
- Fig. 2 is a plan view showing the configuration of the one end side of the rotation shaft of the alternator for a vehicle shown in Fig. 1;
- Fig. 3 is a plan view showing the configuration of a frame which is a constituent part of the cooling medium path of the alternator for a vehicle shown in Fig. 1;
- Fig 4 is a plan view showing the configuration of an end plate which is a constituent part of the cooling medium path of the alternator for a vehicle shown in Fig. 1 and also serves as the cathode side cooling member of a rectifier applied to the alternator for a vehicle shown in Fig. 1;
- Fig. 5 is a plan view showing the configuration of the anode side cooling member of the rectifier applied to the alternator for a vehicle shown in Fig. 1;
- Fig. 6 is a plan view showing the configuration of the terminal table of the rectifier applied to the alternator for a vehicle shown in Fig. 1;
- Fig. 7 is a sectional view showing the entire configuration of the alternator for a vehicle according to the second embodiment of the present invention;
- Fig. 8 is a plan view showing the configuration of the one end side of the rotation shaft of the alternator for a vehicle shown in Fig. 7;
- Fig. 9 is a characteristic diagram showing the relation of noise levels with respect to the rotation speeds of the alternator for a vehicle shown in Fig. 7;
- Fig. 10 is a characteristic diagram showing the relation of noise levels with respect to the rotation speeds of the alternator for a vehicle shown in Fig. 7;
- Fig. 11 is a characteristic diagram showing the relation of noise levels with respect to the rotation speeds of the alternator for a vehicle shown in Fig. 7;
- Fig. 12 is a sectional view showing the entire configuration of the alternator for a vehicle according to the third embodiment of the present invention;
- Fig. 13 is a plan view showing the configuration of the one end side of the rotation shaft of the alternator for a vehicle shown in Fig. 12;
- Fig. 14 is a sectional view showing the configuration of the one end side of the rotation shaft of the alternator for a vehicle according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention;
- Fig. 15 is a sectional view showing the configuration of the one end side of the rotation shaft of the alternator for a vehicle according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention; and
- Fig. 16 is a plan view showing the external configuration of the periphery of a terminal for coupling a regulator with the wiring on a vehicle side at one end side of the rotation shaft of the alternator for a vehicle according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention.
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- Hereinafter, the alternator for a vehicle according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be explained with reference to Figs. 1 to 7. Fig. 1 shows the entire configuration of the alternator for a vehicle according to the embodiment. Fig. 2 shows the configuration of the one end side of the rotation shaft of the alternator for a vehicle according to the embodiment. Fig. 3 shows the configuration of a frame which is a constituent part of the cooling medium path of the alternator for a vehicle according to the embodiment. Fig. 4 shows the configuration of an end plate which is a constituent part of the cooling medium path of the alternator for a vehicle according to the embodiment and also serves as the cathode side cooling member of a rectifier applied to the alternator for a vehicle according to the embodiment. Fig. 5 shows the configuration of the anode side cooling member of the rectifier applied to the alternator for a vehicle according to the embodiment. Fig. 6 shows the configuration of the terminal table of the rectifier applied to the alternator for a vehicle according to the embodiment.
- The alternator for a vehicle according to the embodiment is configured in a manner that the generator is supplied with a field current and also supplied with the rotation driving force of an engine serving as an internal combustion engine of an automobile to rotate a rotor thereby to generate an AC power at a stator, then the AC power thus generated is rectified by the rectifier to obtain an AC power (the driving power for the electric load and the charging power for a battery mounted on the automobile). Further, the alternator for a vehicle according to the embodiment is a so-called water-cooled type synchronous generator for circulating the cooling water within the generator thereby to cool exothermic portions such as the stator and the rectifier. Such a generator is sometimes called as an alternator or a charging generator for a vehicle. The cooling water being used is obtained by brunching a part of the cooling water which cools the engine of the automobile and is cooled by a radiator attached to the engine.
- In the figure, a
reference numeral 1 depicts a frame constituting the housing of the alternator for a vehicle (hereinafter, merely called a generator). Theframe 1 is a vessel shaped housing member which one end in the axial line direction of the center shaft thereof is opened. Theframe 1 is configured by a peripheral wall 1a of an almost cylindrical shape and a side wall 1b which closes the one end of the peripheral wall 1a (the other end in the axial line direction of the center shaft of the frame 1). Acooling medium path 2, the side wall 1b side (the other end side in the axial line direction of the center shaft of the frame 1) thereof is opened, is formed within the peripheral wall 1a. A coolingmedium supply port 3 and a coolingmedium exhaust port 4 each communicating with thecooling medium path 2 are provided in parallel at a part of the outer periphery of the peripheral wall 1a. Anattachment portion 7 for mounting the generator at the engine or within the engine room of the automobile is provided at a part of the outer periphery of the peripheral wall 1a. - The
cooling medium path 2 is formed in an annular shape so as to continue in the axial line direction of the center shaft of the peripheral wall 1a and in the peripheral direction of the peripheral wall 1a. A portion is provided between a communication portion of thecooling medium path 2 with the cooling medium supply port 3 (a portion at the upstream side of the cooling medium path 2) and a communication portion of thecooling medium path 2 with the cooling medium exhaust port 4 (a portion at the downstream side of the cooling medium path 2). At two portions of the outer periphery of the side wall 1b, notchedportions portions - The cooling
medium supply port 3 is coupled to the upstream side (the portion where the cooling water before cooling the engine flows) of the engine cooling system of the automobile. Thus, a pat of the cooling water for cooling the engine is branched and supplied to the generator and then circulated within thecooling medium path 2 to cool the generator. The coolingmedium exhaust port 4 is coupled to the downstream side (the portion where the cooling water having cooled the engine flows) of the engine cooling system of the automobile. Thus, the cooling water having cooled the generator and exhausted from the generator is joined with the cooling water having cooled the engine and then cooled by a radiator attached to the engine. - An end bracket 8 (or an end plate) is fixed by means of a
bolt 36 serving as a fixing means to the one end in the axial line direction of the center shaft of theframe 1 so as to close an opening portion formed at the one end in the axial line direction of the center shaft of the frame 1 (that is, one side of the peripheral wall 1a in opposite to the side wall 1b side thereof). Theend bracket 8 is an annular member and holds abearing device 10 at the inner periphery side thereof. An end bracket 9 (sometimes an end plate) is fixed by means of abolt 37 serving as a fixing means to the other end in the axial line direction of the center shaft of theframe 1 so as to contact with the outer surface of the side wall 1b through a member. Theend bracket 9 is an annular member and closes the opening end of the coolingmedium path 2 formed at the other end side (the side wall 1b side of the peripheral wall 1a) in the axial line direction of the center shaft of theframe 1. - An
annular groove 35 is provided at the outer surface of the side wall 1b so as to be along the outer side edge and the inner side edge of the opening end of the coolingmedium path 2 formed at the other end side (the side wall 1b side of the peripheral wall 1a) in the axial line direction of the center shaft of theframe 1. AnO ring 12 serving as a sealing member (or a packing) is inserted into theannular groove 35. TheO ring 12 is made from rubber with elasticity and serves to hermetically seal between the outer surface of the side wall 1b and theend bracket 9 thereby to prevent the water leakage from the coolingmedium path 2. - The member provided between the outer surface of the side wall 1b and the
end bracket 9 is made from silicon resin which thermal conductivity is larger than air. In this embodiment, although the explanation is made as to the case where the silicon resin is provided between the outer surface of the side wall 1b and theend bracket 9, material other than the silicon resin may be used as the member so long as the material has thermal conductivity equivalent to that of the silicon resin. - The center portion of the side wall 1b (a portion in the vicinity of the center axis of the frame 1) protrudes from the inner periphery side of the
end bracket 9 toward the side opposite to theend bracket 8 side thereof. A bearingdevice 11 is held at the inner periphery side of the tip end of the protruding portion of the side wall 1b. - A stator having a stator core 5 (or a stator iron core) and a stator coil 6 (or a stator winding) is fixed to the inner periphery of the peripheral wall 1a. The
stator core 5 is a cylindrical magnetic member and provided with plural slots at its inner periphery. Thestator coil 6 is arranged in a manner that coils of three phases of u, v and w phases are respectively inserted into the corresponding slots of thestator core 5 and coupled in a star-connection. - A pole core 14 (or rotor iron) opposing to the
stator core 5 through a gap is provided at the inner periphery side of thestator core 5 so as to be rotatable. Thepole core 14 is fixed to a shaft 13 (or a rotation shaft) in a manner that a pair of nail-shaped cores having plural nail portions in the peripheral direction are opposed to each other in the axial line direction of the rotation shaft and that the nail portions of the one of the nail-shaped cores and the nail portions of the other of the nail-shaped cores are disposed alternatively in the peripheral direction (that is, the rotation direction of the rotor). Theshaft 13 extends in the axial line direction of the center shaft of theframe 1. The one end (that is, theend bracket 8 side) of theshaft 13 is supported by the bearingdevice 10 so as to be rotatable. The other end (that is, theend bracket 9 side) of theshaft 13 is supported by the bearingdevice 11 so as to be rotatable. - A
permanent magnet 22 formed by rare-earth material such as cobalt, neodymium or boron is fixed between the nail portions of the one core of thepole core 14 and the nail portions of the other core of thepole core 14. A field coil 15 (or a rotor winding) wound around a bobbin is provided at portions opposing to the inner periphery of the nail portions of the pole core 14 (or thefield coil 15 may be directly wound around the portions). Thefield coil 15 is subjected to the insulating processing. - The one end of the
shaft 13 extends to the outer side from the bearingdevice 10 and a pulley 21 (or a belt disc) is fixed to the tip end of the one end by means of abolt 38 serving as a fixing means. Thepulley 21 is mechanically coupled to a pulley provided at the crank shaft of the engine of the automobile through a chain or a belt serving as a driving force transmission means thereby to transmit the rotation driving force of the engine. - A slip ring 16 (or a collector ring) is fixed at a portion which is located at the other end of the
shaft 13 and positioned to the inner side from the bearingdevice 11. Theslip ring 16 is a current-collective annular member and electrically coupled to thefield coil 15 through alead wire 17. Aslip ring 16 is slidably made in contact with thebrush 18 and supplied with electric power (a field current) through thebrush 18. Thebrush 18 is held by abrush holder 19 which is fixed to the surface of theend bracket 9 in opposite to theend bracket 8 side thereof. Aspring 20 serving as an elastic member is provided within thebrush holder 19. Thespring 20 presses thebrush 18 so that thebrush 18 is slidably made in contact with theslip ring 16. - Through
holes 39 are formed so as to be arranged in a circular shape at a portion of the side wall 1b between the end portions in the peripheral direction of the notchedportions portion 2a in opposite to the notchedportion 2b side thereof, and a portion of the side wall 1b on the end portion side in the peripheral direction of the notchedportion 2b in opposite to the notchedportion 2a side thereof. The through holes 39 are provided so as to protrudeterminals 40, which are electrically coupled to the coils of the respective phases, from the side wall 1b toward theend bracket 9 side.Bolts 41 are buried so as to protrude on theend bracket 9 side at portions of the side wall 1b inner side from the throughholes 39 in the radial direction. Screw holes 42 to be meshed with thebolts 37 are formed at six portions on the outer periphery side of theframe 1. Each of the screw holes 42 is formed as a through hole. - A
rectifier 23 and a regulator 24 (or a voltage regulator) are fixed at the surface of theend bracket 9 on the side opposite to theend bracket 8 side thereof. Therectifier 23 full-wave rectifies the three-phase current output from thestator coil 6 to obtain DC output. Theregulator 24 controls the field current flowing into thefield coil 15 through thebrush 18 thereby to adjust the three-phase current output from thestator coil 6. - The side of the
end bracket 9 in opposite to theend bracket 8 side thereof (that is, a side where therectifier 23, theregulator 24 and thebrush holder 19 are fixed) is covered by a cover 25 (or a cover member). Thecover 25 is provided with aflange 25a extending toward the outside in the radial direction. A throughhole 25b is formed at a portion corresponding to thescrew hole 42 of theflange 25a. - A terminal 26 is exposed outside from the
cover 25. The terminal 26 is electrically coupled to therectifier 23. A terminal (not shown) of the vehicle side wiring is electrically coupled to the terminal 26 in order to supply a DC output rectified by therectifier 23 to the outside, that is, the vehicle side (such as the battery and the electric load). Slanted portions in Fig. 2 show the coolingmedium path 2 and the notchedportions - The
rectifier 23 is formed by a laminated member in which theend bracket 9 also serving as a cathode side cooling plate, aninsulation member 27, an anodeside cooling plate 28 and a terminal table 29 are laminated in this order. Theend bracket 9 is a plate-shaped member and made of aluminum like theframe 1 and theend bracket 8. As described above, theend bracket 9 is fixed to the outer surface of the side wall 1b through the silicon resin. Throughholes 43 for passing thebolts 37 therethrough are formed at portions (six portions on the outer periphery side of the end bracket 9) corresponding to the screw holes 42 of theend bracket 9. Thecover 25 and theend bracket 9 can be fixed to theframe 1 by inserting thebolts 37 into the throughholes bolts 37 with the screw holes 42, respectively. - Through
holes 34 are formed at portions corresponding to the throughholes 39 of theend bracket 9. The terminal 40 passes through the corresponding one of the throughholes 34 so as to protrude to theend bracket 9 side from the side wall 1b side. Throughholes 44 are formed at portions of theend bracket 9 opposing to the buried positions of thebolts 41 at the inner side of the radial direction than the throughholes 34, respectively. The through holes 44 pass thebolts 41 therethrough, respectively. Two throughholes 30 are formed at portions of theend bracket 9 at the inner side of the radial direction than the portions corresponding to the notchedportions 2a and also at the inner side of the radial direction than the throughholes 34, respectively. A throughhole 30 is formed at a portion of theend bracket 9 at the inner side of the radial direction than the portion corresponding to the notchedportion 2b and also at the inner side of the radial direction than the throughhole 34. - These three through
holes 30 are arranged in a circular shape at portions not opposing to the coolingmedium path 2 of theend bracket 9. The cathode side of a rectifyingdiode 31 serving as a cathode side rectifying element is pressed and buried into each of the through holes 30. The bottom surface of each of the rectifyingdiodes 31 contacts with the outer surface of the side wall 1b through a silicon member provided between the outer surface of the side wall 1b and theend bracket 9. Each of screw holes 45 is formed at an almost intermediate portion between a corresponding pair of the throughholes end bracket 9 which is outside of the radial direction than the corresponding throughhole 34. - In this embodiment, the rectifying
diodes 31 are buried at portions of theend bracket 9 which relatively close to the coolingmedium path 2. However, since the cooling medium is prevented from being leaked from the coolingmedium path 2 by the insulation member and theO ring 12 provided between the outer surface of the side wall 1b and theend bracket 9, the rectifyingdiodes 31 does not directly contact with the rectifyingdiodes 31. - The anode
side cooling plate 28 is a cooling fin of a circular shape (or a horse-shoe shape) and made from aluminum member like theend bracket 9. The anodeside cooling plate 28 is fixed to the surface of theend bracket 9 at the side in opposite to theend bracket 8 side thereof through theinsulation member 27 so that the inner diameter of the anode side cooling plate is positioned at a portion of theend bracket 9 at the outer side of the radial direction than the through holes 30. Throughholes 47 are formed at portions of the anodeside cooling plate 28 opposing to the throughholes 44, respectively. Each of the throughholes 47 passes thebolt 41 therethrough - Through
holes 46 are formed at portions of the anodeside cooling plate 28 opposing to the throughholes 34 at the outer side of the radial direction than the throughholes 47 of the anodeside cooling plate 28, respectively. Each of the throughholes 46 passes therethrough the terminal 40 which protrudes on theend bracket 9 side from the side wall 1b side. Throughholes 48 are formed at portions of the anodeside cooling plate 28 opposing to the screw holes 45 at the outer side of the radial direction than the throughholes 47 of the anodeside cooling plate 28, respectively. Each of the throughholes 48 passes ascrew 51 therethrough. Two throughholes 33 are formed at portions of the anodeside cooling plate 28 opposing to the notchedportions 2a at the outer side of the radial direction than the throughholes 47 of the anodeside cooling plate 28, respectively. A throughhole 33 is formed at a portion of the anodeside cooling plate 28 opposing to the notchedportion 2b at the outer side of the radial direction than the throughhole 47 of the anodeside cooling plate 28. - The through holes 33, 46 and 48 are arranged in a circular shape on the anode
side cooling plate 28 and the throughholes 33 are arranged so as to be disposed at portions of the anodeside cooling plate 28 opposing to the coolingmedium path 2. The cathode side of a rectifyingdiode 32 serving as an anode side rectifying element is pressed and buried into each of the through holes 33. Thus, the rectifyingdiodes 32 are disposed at positions closer to the coolingmedium path 2 at the outer side of the radial direction than the rectifyingdiodes 31. In particular, according to the embodiment, the rectifyingdiodes 32 are disposed at positions opposing to the coolingmedium path 2. These positions are lower in temperature than the buried positions (fixed positions) of the rectifyingdiodes 31. - The bottom surface of each of the rectifying
diodes 32 contacts with the surface of the side of theend bracket 9 in opposing to theend bracket 8 side thereof through theinsulation member 27. Theinsulation member 27 is a sheet-shaped member formed in a circular shape (or a horse-shoe shape) along the configuration of the anodeside cooling plate 28 and the area of theinsulation member 27 is slightly larger than that of the anodeside cooling plate 28. Silicon pound in paste form is coated or applied on the surface of theinsulation member 27 opposing to theend bracket 9 and on the surface of theinsulation member 27 opposing to the anodeside cooling plate 28. Thus, theinsulation member 27 has thermal conductivity. - The terminal table 29 is a coupling member (or a terminal assembly) configured by integrally forming metal members 56 (or conductive members) for coupling the rectifying
diodes side cooling plate 28. Dotted lines in Figs. 2 and 6 show themetal members 56. Each of themetal members 56 hasterminals diode 31 is electrically and mechanically coupled to the terminal 50 by means of soldering or welding. The anode side of the rectifyingdiode 32 is electrically and mechanically coupled to the terminal 52 by means of soldering or welding. The corresponding one ofterminals 40 coupled to the respective phases of thestator coil 6 is caulked and electrically and mechanically coupled to the terminal 49. - Through
holes 53 are formed at portions of the terminal table 29 opposing to theholes 47, respectively. Thebolt 41 is passed through theend bracket 9, the anodeside cooling plate 28 and the terminal table 29 in this order and fastened by anut 57 thereby to fix therectifier 23 to theend bracket 9 and simultaneously fix theend bracket 9 to theframe 1. Throughholes 54 are formed at portions of the terminal table 29 opposing to the throughholes 48, respectively. Ascrew 51 passes through each of the through holes 54. The anodeside cooling plate 28 and the terminal table 29 are laminated in this order on theend bracket 9, then thescrew 51 is inserted into the throughholes screw hole 45 and fastened, whereby the anodeside cooling plate 28 and the terminal table 29 are fixed to theend bracket 9. A terminal 59 is provided at one end in the peripheral direction of the terminal table 29. The terminal 58 serves to electrically couple therectifier 23 with theregulator 24 and extends from one of themetal members 56 to theregulator 24 side and fixed to theregulator 24 by mean of ascrew 59. - As explained above, according to the embodiment, since the rectifying
diodes 31 are buried within theend bracket 9 constituting the coolingmedium path 2, the thermal resistance of the heat transfer path from the rectifyingdiodes 31 to the cooling medium can be reduced and so the cooling efficiency of the rectifyingdiodes 31 can be improved as compared with the conventional technique in which the rectifyingdiodes 31 are cooled through the cooling plate. Further, since theend bracket 9 also serves as the cathode side cooling plate, the cooling plate is not provided unlike the conventional technique, whereby the cost of the generator can be reduced. - Further, according to the embodiment, each of the rectifying
diode 32 is disposed at the position closer to the path than the rectifyingdiode 31, that is, the position lower in the temperature than the fixed position of the rectifyingdiode 31. In particular, in this embodiment, the anodeside cooling plate 28 is fixed to the surface of theend bracket 9 in opposite to theend bracket 8 side thereof through theinsulation member 27 so that the rectifyingdiodes 32 are disposed at the position opposing to the coolingmedium path 2. Thus, as compared with the conventional technique in which the rectifyingdiodes 32 are cooled through the cathode side cooling plate, the heat transfer path from the rectifyingdiodes 32 to the cooling medium can be made short and so the cooling efficiency of the rectifyingdiode 32 can be improved. Thus, the cooling performance of the rectifyingdiodes 32 can be improved. Further, since each of the rectifyingdiodes 32 is positioned at the position lower in temperature than that of the rectifyingdiodes 31, each of the rectifyingdiodes 32 can be further improved in its cooling efficiency and so can attain similar cooling effect to that of the rectifyingdiodes 31. - Thus, according to the embodiment, the cooling efficiency of each of the rectifying
diodes diodes 31 and the rectifyingdiodes 32 are cooled in a balanced state and so the cooling efficiency of therectifier 23 can be improved, so that the cooling performance of therectifier 23 can be improved. - Further, according to the embodiment, the rectifying
diodes 31 are buried into the throughholes 30 provided at theend bracket 9 and the bottom surfaces of the rectifyingdiodes 31 are made in contact with the side wall 1b through the member having a thermal conductivity higher than the air. Thus, the heat transfer of the rectifyingdiodes 31 can be further promoted and so the cooling efficiency of the rectifyingdiodes 31 can be further improved. - Furthermore, according to the embodiment, since the through
holes 30 are used as holes for burying the rectifyingdiodes 31 of theend bracket 9 therein, the generator can be manufactured easily and the manufacturing cost of the generators can be reduced. That is, according to the embodiment, each of the rectifyingdiodes 31 is buried at the position opposing to the side wall 1b of theend bracket 9, that is, the position not opposing to the coolingmedium path 2. - Like the conventional technique, in the case where the rectifier is provided at the portion constituting the cooling medium path so that the rectifier opposes to the cooling medium path, when the through hole is provided at the portion opposing to the cooling medium path, it is required to coat the sealing material etc. after inserting the rectifier diode therein with pressure in order to prevent the leakage of the cooling medium. According to such a technical concept, the numbers of the manufacturing processes and the constituent parts of the generator increase, so that the cost of the generator increases. On the other hand, when the hole for burying the rectifying diode is configured in a concave shape in order to prevent the leakage of the cooling medium, it becomes difficult to manage the depth of the concave portion, the diameter of the opening portion and the shape of the angle of the bottom surface of the concave portion of the hole and further it is necessary to fix the bottom surface of the rectifying diode to the bottom surface of the concave portion by means of solder or adhesive. According to such a technical concept, also the numbers of the manufacturing processes and the constituent parts of the generator increase, so that the cost of the generator increases. In contrast, like the present embodiment, when the through
holes 30 are provided at the portions of theend bracket 9 not opposing to the coolingmedium path 2 and the rectifying diodes are pressed and buried into the throughholes 30, the aforesaid problems of the conventional technique do not arise. - Further, according to the embodiment, the notched
portions medium path 2 so as to be sunk inside in the radial direction at the one end of the peripheral wall 1a, are provided at the two portions of the outer surface of the side wall 1b so as to be adjacent to each other in the peripheral direction. Further, the anodeside cooling plate 28 is fixed to the surface at the side of theend bracket 9 in opposite to theend bracket 8 side thereof so that the rectifyingdiodes 32 are disposed at the portions opposing to the notchedportions end bracket 9. Thus, it is not necessary to spread the coolingmedium path 2 in a complicated manner at the one end of the peripheral wall 1a. Accordingly, such phenomena can be prevented from occurring that the resistance of the path increases, the cooling medium hardly circulates within the coolingmedium path 2 and so the cooling efficiency of the generator is degraded. - The second embodiment of the present invention will be explained based on Figs.7 to 11. Fig. 7 shows the entire configuration of the alternator for a vehicle according to the embodiment. Fig. 8 shows the configuration of the one end side of the rotation shaft of the alternator for a vehicle according to the embodiment. Figs. 9 to 11 show the relation of noise levels with respect to the rotation speeds of the alternator for a vehicle according to the embodiment.
- In these figures, portions identical to those of the first embodiment are referred to by the common symbols, with explanation thereof being omitted. Hereinafter, the explanation will be made only as to the portions different from the first embodiment.
- The generator according to the embodiment is arranged in a manner that a cooling
fan 60 is fixed by welding to the end portion of theend bracket 9 side of thepole core 14. The coolingfan 60 is a mold part which is molded by subjecting an iron plate to the plastic deformation by means of a pressing machine etc. Intake holes 61 (or fresh-air intake holes), which communicate the inner portion of thecover 25 with the outer portion thereof thereby to take cooling air into the inner portion of thecover 25 from the outer portion thereof, are provided at three portions of theperipheral wall 25a of thecover 25, respectively. Each of the intake holes 61 is disposed at the position which is near therectifier 23 and at the outer side in the radial direction than therectifier 23, and is opened so as to be along the outer diameter side of therectifier 23 of an arc shape. - Ventilation holes 62 are formed at three portions of the
end bracket 9 at the inner side in the radial direction than therectifier 23. The ventilation holes 62 are through holes. Ventilation holes 63 are formed at the portions of the side wall 1b opposing to the ventilation holes 62. The ventilation holes 63 are through holes and communicate with the ventilation holes 62. The ventilation holes 62, 63 are disposed in an arc shape along the inner diameter side of therectifier 23 of the arc shape. Of the ventilation holes 62 and 63, the opening area of each of the ventilation holes 62 and 63 disposed at the center of the arrangement is larger than that of each of the ventilation holes 62 and 63 disposed at the both end portions of the arrangement. A space between theend bracket 9 and thecover 25 and a space, which is closed by the side wall 1b and theend bracket 8 and in which thepole core 14 and thestator core 5 are housed, communicate to each other through he ventilation holes 62, 63. - An
exhaust hole 64 is formed at a portion of theend bracket 8. Theexhaust hole 64 is a through hole and a communication area thereof is same as that of theintake hole 61. A space which is closed by the side wall 1b and theend bracket 8 and in which thepole core 14 and thestator core 5 are housed communicates with the outside through theexhaust hole 64. - According to the generator of this embodiment thus configured, the cooling
fan 60 rotates in accordance with the rotation of thepole core 14, ambient air serving as the cooling air is introduced into the space between theend bracket 9 and thecover 25 through the intake holes 61. The cooling air thus introduced passes near therectifier 23 and cools therectifier 23. After the cooling, the cooling air is introduced through the ventilation holes 62 and 63 into the space which is closed by the side wall 1b and theend bracket 8 and in which thestator core 5 and thepole core 14 are hosed. The cooling air thus introduced cools thestator core 5 and thepole core 14. After the cooling, the cooling air is exhausted to the outside through theexhaust hole 64. Arrows in Figs. 7 and 8 show the flows of the cooling air. - Further, according to the generator of the embodiment, the
stator core 5, therectifier 23, theregulator 24 etc. are cooled by the cooling medium (for example, cooling water) circulating within the coolingmedium path 2. - In the aforesaid first embodiment, although the
regulator 24 is fixed at the side of thebrush holder 19 in opposite to theend bracket 9 side thereof, theregulator 24 is fixed at the surface of thebrush holder 19 side of theend bracket 9. According to such a configuration, heat generated by theregulator 24 can be transmitted to theend bracket 9 and so transmitted to the cooling medium flowing through the coolingmedium path 2. - Furthermore, according to the generator of the embodiment, a space is provided between the terminal table 29 and the anode
side cooling plate 28 of therectifier 23 so that the cooling air passes through the space. According to such a configuration, the cooling air can sufficiently cool the surface of with a large cooling area portion of the anodeside cooling plate 28 and so therectifier 23 with the largest exothermic heat amount can be cooled efficiently within the space between theend bracket 9 and thecover 25. - Furthermore, according to the generator of the embodiment, since the air between the
end bracket 9 and thecover 25 is ventilated while directly cooling therectifier 23, thebrush 18 and theslip ring 16 are also cooled. - The cooling
fan 60 is mainly intended to cool the movable parts constituting the generator, for example, thefield coil 15 and theslip ring 16 provided at thepole core 14 and to supplementaly cool therectifier 23. Thus, as compared with the generator of the type cooling only by using the ambient air, it becomes possible to reduce the number of thefans 60, the height of the blades and the number of the blades etc. - Next, the relation of the noise levels with respect to the rotation speeds of the generator according to the embodiment will be explained based on Figs. 9 to 11. The inventors of the present invention have tested and measured the noise generated by the cooling
fan 60. In the measurement, a generator with the coolingfan 60 and another generator without the coolingfan 60 are prepared and each of the generator was driven in a no-load operation. - Fig. 9 shows the measurement result in which a microphone for measurement is disposed at a position away from the
cover 25 of the generator by 1 m in the axial line direction of the rotation shaft thereof and noise levels dBa (ordinate) with respect to the rotation speeds r/min (abscissa) of the generator was measured. As the result of the measurement, the noise level at this position was almost same irrespective of the presence or non-presence of the cooling fan. - Fig. 10 shows the measurement result in which the microphone for measurement is disposed at a position away from the generator by 1 m in the vertical direction with respect to the axial line direction of the rotation shaft thereof and noise levels dBa (ordinate) with respect to the rotation speeds r/min (abscissa) of the generator was measured. As the result of the measurement, the noise level at this position was almost same irrespective of the presence or non-presence of the cooling fan.
- Fig. 11 shows the measurement result in which the microphone for measurement is disposed at a position away from the
end bracket 8 of the generator by 1 m in the axial line direction of the rotation shaft thereof and noise levels dBa (ordinate) with respect to the rotation speeds r/min (abscissa) of the generator was measured. As the result of the measurement, the noise level at this position was almost same irrespective of the presence or non-presence of the cooling fan when the rotation speed of the generator is about 12,000 r/min or less. - When the rotation speed of the generator exceeds about 12,000 r/min, the noise level of the generator with the fan becomes slightly larger than that of the generator without the fan. However, in the case where the generator is mounted on the engine of an automobile, the ratio between the rotation speed of the crank shaft of the engine and the rotation speed of the generator is set almost to be 1 : 1.5 to 3. Thus, when the engine rotates at the speed of 12,000 r/min, the engine rotates at the speed in a range of 4,000 to 8,000 r/min. Thus, the noise level of the engine becomes excessive as compared with that of the generator and so the noise level difference between the generator with the fan and the generator without the fan does not become a problem.
- According to the embodiment explained above, since the rectifier is fixed to the
end bracket 9 constituting the coolingmedium path 2, theend bracket 9 side of therectifier 23 can be cooled. Further, since the cooling air is introduced into the space between theend bracket 9 and thecover 25 through the intake holes 61 formed at thecover 25, the side of therectifier 23 in opposite to theend bracket 9 side thereof can be cooled. Thus, according to the embodiment, therectifier 23 can be cooled at the both sides thereof and so the cooling efficiency of therectifier 23 can be improved. Accordingly, the cooling performance of therectifier 23 can be improved. - Further, according to the embodiment, since the intake holes 61 are provided near the
rectifier 23 and the introducing area of the cooling air is limited only to the vicinity of therectifier 23, the flowing speed of the cooling air can be increased and the cooling efficiency of therectifier 23 can be further improved. Further, since the cooling air can be positively flown to therectifier 23, the cooling efficiency of therectifier 23 can be further improved. - Further, according to the embodiment, since the introducing area of the cooling air is limited, despite that the generator is an open-type generator, corrosion accelerating material such as water, salt spread over the road for antifreezing, snow melting material can be suppressed from entering into the generator, so that resistance to environment can be improved.
- With respect to the method of increasing the voltage to 42 volt, for example, which is one of the methods of improving fuel cost of a vehicle, in order to prevent the promotion of corrosion due to the increase of the voltage, it is considered to employ a generator to be cooled by the cooling medium other than ambient air thereby to improve the resistance to environment. In order to further improve the heat-resistance performance while improving the resistance to environment in this generator, it is effective to introduce the cooling air within the generator by limiting the introduction area of the cooling air like the present embodiment.
- Further, according to the embodiment, since the cooling
fan 60 is attached to the end portion of thepole core 14 on theend bracket 9 side, noise caused by the coolingfan 60 can be suppressed to a small level. That is, since the space between theend bracket 9 and thecover 25 exists between the coolingfan 60 and the outside and further the introduction area of the cooling air is limited, noise caused by the coolingfan 60 can be suppressed to a small level. On the other hand, at theend bracket 8 side, since a magnetic space between thestator core 5 and thepole core 14 has normally a quite small value of 1 mm or less and thepole core 14 serves as a shielding member. Thus, noise caused by the coolingfan 60 can also be suppressed to a small level at theend bracket 8 side. - Furthermore, according to the embodiment, since the noise of the cooling
fan 60 can be reduced, the coolingfan 60 can be fabricated at a low cost through the plastic deformation of metal instead of forming by molding resin. Further, according to the coolingfan 60 made of metal which is higher in thermal conductivity than resin, heat generated from thefield coil 15 can be transmitted to the coolingfan 60 through thepole core 14 and so dissipated. That is, the coolingfan 60 can be used as a cooling fin. - Furthermore, according to the embodiment, since the
holes rectifier 23, the cooling air within the space between theend bracket 9 and thecover 25 can be flown smoothly. Thus, not only the cooling efficiency of therectifier 23 but also the cooling efficiency of the space between theend bracket 9 and thecover 25 can be improved, so that the cooling efficiency of each of thebrush 18 and theslip ring 16 can also be improved. - Furthermore, according to the embodiment, since the cooling efficiency of each of the
brush 18 and theslip ring 16 can be improved, the life times of thebrush 18 and theslip ring 16 can be made longer. - The third embodiment of the present invention will be explained based on Figs.12 and 13. Fig. 12 shows the entire configuration of the alternator for a vehicle according to the embodiment. Fig. 13 shows the configuration of the one end side of the rotation shaft of the alternator for a vehicle according to the embodiment.
- The axial line direction of the rotation shaft of the generator is almost perpendicular to the elevational direction of the generator in the case where the generator is mounted on a vehicle. Arrows shown in the figures show the top direction when the generator is mounted on a vehicle. In the aforesaid embodiment, since the intake holes 61 are opened in the ground direction, water wound up by tires at the time of running of the vehicle, salt spread over the road for antifreezing and snow melting material etc. may enter into the generator and so promote corrosion of the constituent parts. Thus, according to the embodiment, the intake holes 61 are opened in the axial line direction of the rotation shaft of the generator. Accordingly, water and corrosion promotion material are prevented from directly entering into the generator.
- In this case, the cooling air introduced into the space between the
end bracket 9 and thecover 25 from the intake holes 61 is once bent almost at right angle. Thus, the ventilation resistance of the cooling water increases and so the cooling efficiency of therectifier 23 by the cooling air reduces. However, since therectifier 23 mounted on the generator of the present embodiment is cooled by the cooling medium circulating within the coolingmedium path 2, the cooling efficiency of therectifier 23 reduces slightly. - The fourth embodiment of the present invention will be explained based on Fig.14. Fig. 14 shows the configuration of the one end side of the rotation shaft of the alternator for a vehicle according to the embodiment.
- The present embodiment intends to improve the resistance to environment like the aforesaid embodiment. In this embodiment, the number of the intake holes 61 opened in the ground direction is reduced and the opening area thereof is reduced. To this end, the intake holes 61 are disposed at positions corresponding to a position where the rectifying
diodes 32 which temperature is relatively high are concentrated. In this embodiment, the twointake holes 61 are provided so as to correspond to the center portion of thediode 23 of an arc shape. According to the present embodiment thus configured, the resistance to environment can be improved and the cooling efficiency of therectifier 23 can be improved. - Next, the fifth embodiment of the present invention will be explained based on Fig.15. Fig. 15 shows the configuration of the one end side of the rotation shaft of the alternator for a vehicle according to the embodiment.
- In this embodiment, the intake holes 61 are opened in the top direction when the generator is mounted on a vehicle. In this embodiment, drain holes 65 are provided at the side (the side of the
cover 25 directed to the ground) of thecover 25 in opposite to the intake holes 61 side thereof. The opening area of each of the drain holes 65 is quite small as compared with that of theintake hole 61. According to the present embodiment thus configured, moisture entered into the generator from the outside through the intake holes and moisture caused within the generator due to dew condensation etc. can be exhausted outside. - Although the air flow amount and flow rate of the cooling air introduced from the vicinity of the
rectifier 23 change by the drain holes 65 thereby to influence the cooling efficiency of therectifier 23, since the opening area of each of the drain holes 65 is smaller than that of theintake hole 61, the influence is small. Such a drawback is smaller as compared with such an advantage that the moisture collected within the generator can be exhausted and so the corrosion resistance of the generator can be improved. - Next, the sixth embodiment of the present invention will be explained based on Fig.16. Fig. 16 shows the external configuration of the periphery of a terminal 26 (or a connector) for coupling the
regulator 24 with the wiring on the vehicle side at one end side of the rotation shaft of the alternator for a vehicle according to the embodiment. - The terminal 26 is exposed outside from the
cover 25. A gap appears between the terminal 26 and thecover 25 due to size error caused at the time of manufacturing. In this embodiment, a sealingmember 66 is buried within the gap between the terminal 26 and thecover 25 so as to fill and seal the gap between the terminal 26 and thecover 25. The sealingmember 66 is a flexible member such as urethane or rubber. - According to the present embodiment thus configured, at the time of introducing the cooling air, the cooling air is not introduced from the gap between the terminal 26 and the
cover 25 but is introduced only from the intake holes 61 provided in the vicinity of therectifier 23. Thus, since the air flow amount and flow rate of the cooling air passing through therectifier 23 are not reduced, the cooling efficiency of therectifier 23 can be improved. Further, since the corrosion promotion material etc. can be prevented from entering from the gap between the terminal 26 and thecover 25, the resistance to environment can be improved. Further, since the sealingmember 66 is buried into the gap between the cover and the member such an output terminal exposing outside from thecover 25, the aforesaid effect can be further enhanced. - According to the present invention as explained above, since the cooling efficiency of the rectifier can be improved, the cooling performance of the rectifier can be improved. Thus, according to the present invention, an alternator for a vehicle which can improve the cooling performance of the rectifier can be provided.
Claims (14)
- Alternator for vehicles, comprising:a stator (5) having a stator winding (6);a rotor (14) having a field winding (15) and opposing to the stator through a gap;a rectifier (23) for converting AC power generated by the stator winding (6) into DC power;a frame (1) which holds the stator (5) and has a cooling medium path (2) at least one end thereof being opened; andan end plate (9) for hermetically closing the opened end of the cooling medium path (2), whereina cathode side rectifying element constituting the rectifier is fixed to a portion of the end plate (9) not opposing to the cooling medium path (2), anda cooling member, at which an anode side rectifying element (28) constituting the rectifier is fixed, is fixed to the end plate (9) in an insulated state so that the anode side rectifying element (28) is disposed at a position lower in temperature than a fixed position where the cathode side rectifying element is disposed.
- Alternator according to claim 1, further comprising
a cover member (25) which covers the rectifier, wherein the cover member (25) includes an intake hole (61) for cooling air which is provided at a portion near the rectifier (23) and outer side in radial direction than the rectifier (23). - Alternator for vehicles, comprising:a stator (5) having a stator winding (6);a rotor (14) having a field winding (15) and opposing to the stator (5) through a gap;a rectifier (23) for converting AC power generated by the stator winding (6) into DC power;a frame (1) which holds the stator (5) and has a cooling medium path (2) at least one end thereof being opened;an end plate (9) which hermetically closes the opened end of the cooling medium path (2) and at which the rectifier (23) is fixed; anda cover member (25) which covers the rectifier (23), whereinthe cover member (25) includes an intake hole (61) for cooling air which is provided at a portion near the rectifier (23) and outer side in radial direction than the rectifier (23).
- Alternator according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the position lower in temperature than the fixed position of the cathode side rectifying element is near the cooling medium path (2) and at outer side in radial direction than the cathode side rectifying element.
- Alternator according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the position lower in temperature than the fixed position of the cathode side rectifying element opposes to the cooling medium path (2).
- Alternator according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the cathode side rectifying element is buried at a portion of the end plate (9) not opposing to the cooling medium path (2) and contacts with a wall surface of the frame (1) at which a bearing for rotatably holding a rotation shaft (13) of the rotor is held.
- Alternator according to any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the cathode side rectifying element is buried at a portion of the end plate (9) not opposing to the cooling medium path (2) and contacts, through a material having a thermal conductivity larger than air, with a wall surface of the frame (1) at which a bearing for rotatably holding a rotation shaft (13) of the rotor is held.
- Alternator according to any of claims 2 to 7, wherein the intake hole (61) is opened in a same direction as an axial line direction of a rotation shaft (13) of the rotor.
- Alternator according to any of claims 2 to 8, further comprising
an exhaust hole (64) which is provided at a portion of the cover member (25) in opposite to the intake hole (61) side thereof and has an opening which sectional area is smaller than a sectional area of an opening of the intake hole (61). - Alternator according to any of claims 2 to 9, further comprising
a ventilation hole (62, 63) which is provided at the end plate (9) so as to communicate a space between the end plate (9) and the cover member (25) with a space where the stator (5) and the rotor (14) exist and introduce cooling air taken into the space between the end plate (9) and the cover member (25) into the space where the stator (5) and the rotor (14) exist. - Alternator according to claim 10, wherein the ventilation hole (62, 63) is provided at a portion near the rectifier (23) and inner side in a radial direction than the rectifier (23).
- Alternator according to any of claims 2 to 11, wherein the rotor (14) has a fan (60) at the end plate side thereof.
- Alternator according to any of claims 2 to 12, further comprising
a terminal (26) capable of being electrically coupled to outside, wherein the terminal (26) exposes the outside from the cover member (25), and a gap formed between the terminal (26) and the cover member (25) is sealed by a sealing member (66). - Alternator according to any of claims 2 to 13, further comprising
an exhaust hole (64) for exhausting cooling air taken into a space where the stator (5) and the rotor (14) exist, the exhaust hole (64) being disposed at a side of a pulley (21) provided at one end of the rotation shaft (13) of the rotor (14) and being provided at a side wall of the frame (1) at which a bearing for rotatably supporting the rotation shaft (13) of the rotor (14) is held.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
JP2002126608A JP3770200B2 (en) | 2002-04-26 | 2002-04-26 | AC generator for vehicles |
JP2002126608 | 2002-04-26 |
Publications (3)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP1361646A2 true EP1361646A2 (en) | 2003-11-12 |
EP1361646A3 EP1361646A3 (en) | 2003-12-03 |
EP1361646B1 EP1361646B1 (en) | 2006-08-30 |
Family
ID=29243810
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP03009470A Expired - Lifetime EP1361646B1 (en) | 2002-04-26 | 2003-04-25 | Alternator for vehicle |
Country Status (4)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US7023113B2 (en) |
EP (1) | EP1361646B1 (en) |
JP (1) | JP3770200B2 (en) |
DE (1) | DE60307924T2 (en) |
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Cited By (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE10361860A1 (en) * | 2003-12-30 | 2005-07-28 | Robert Bosch Gmbh | Protective cap, in particular for an alternator |
FR2893775A1 (en) * | 2005-07-27 | 2007-05-25 | Mitsubishi Electric Corp | ROTARY ELECTRIC MACHINE WITH INTEGRATED INVERTER |
WO2009065672A1 (en) * | 2007-11-20 | 2009-05-28 | Continental Automotive Gmbh | Electrical plug-in contact of an electrical drive system |
WO2009065645A1 (en) * | 2007-11-20 | 2009-05-28 | Continental Automotive Gmbh | Electrical plug-in contact of an electric drive system |
FR2996073A1 (en) * | 2012-09-24 | 2014-03-28 | Valeo Equip Electr Moteur | Revolving electric machine for use in on-board system for production of electrical energy in e.g. electric car, has chamber whose width and height of carcass present relationship to maintain stator and rotor temperature within limits |
CN106797152A (en) * | 2014-10-21 | 2017-05-31 | 三菱电机株式会社 | Rotary electric machine for vehicles |
CN106797152B (en) * | 2014-10-21 | 2019-05-21 | 三菱电机株式会社 | Rotary electric machine for vehicles |
US11349370B2 (en) | 2017-04-28 | 2022-05-31 | Valeo Equipements Electriques Moteur | Rotary electric machine with shrink-fitted bearing |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
EP1361646A3 (en) | 2003-12-03 |
JP3770200B2 (en) | 2006-04-26 |
US7023113B2 (en) | 2006-04-04 |
EP1361646B1 (en) | 2006-08-30 |
DE60307924T2 (en) | 2007-01-04 |
JP2003324918A (en) | 2003-11-14 |
DE60307924D1 (en) | 2006-10-12 |
US20040135443A1 (en) | 2004-07-15 |
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